Fosamprenavir (By mouth)

Introduction:

Fosamprenavir (fos-am-PREN-a-vir)

Treats human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Fosamprenavir does not cure HIV or AIDS, but combinations of drugs may slow the progress of the disease.

Brand Name(s):

Lexiva

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Liquid, Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• You may take this medicine with or without food. Adults should take the oral suspension form without food. Children should take the oral suspension with food.
• Shake the oral suspension well before each use.
• Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup.
• Fosamprenavir is used with other medicines to treat HIV infection. Take all other medicines your doctor has prescribed as part of your combination treatment.
• When your supply of this medicine is running low, contact your doctor or pharmacist ahead of time. Do not allow yourself to run out of this medicine.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine and it has been fewer than four hours since you were supposed to take it, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose or it has been longer than four hours since you were supposed to take it, wait until your next scheduled time to use the medicine and skip the missed dose.
• Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
• If you or your child vomits 30 minutes after the first dose, take a second dose right away.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. The oral suspension may also be refrigerated. Do not freeze.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are using medicine to treat heart rhythm problems (such as amiodarone, bepridil, lidocaine, quinidine, or Cardioquin®), a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®), certain blood pressure medicines (such as amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, verapamil, or Plendil®), or medicine to lower cholesterol (such as atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, or Lipitor®).
• Tell your doctor if you are also using medicine for seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, Luminal®, Dilantin®, or Tegretol®), medicine for depression (such as amitriptyline, imipramine, paroxetine, trazodone, Desyrel®, or Paxil®), medicine for anxiety (such as alprazolam, clorazepate, diazepam, flurazepam, Valium®, or Xanax®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), rifabutin (Mycobutin®), a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone or fluticasone), a stomach medicine (such as cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, ranitidine, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, or Prilosec®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), tacrolimus (Prograf®), rapamycin (Sirolimus®), methadone (Dolophine®), birth control pills, sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), vardenafil (Levitra®), or other medicine to treat HIV or AIDS (such as efavirenz, nevirapine, atazanavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, Crixivan®, or Sustiva®).

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant, or if you have diabetes, a high amount of cholesterol (fat) in the blood, hemolytic anemia, or hemophilia (a bleeding problem). Your doctor also needs to know if you have kidney disease, liver disease (especially hepatitis B or C), or if you are allergic to sulfa drugs (sulfonamides) such as Bactrim® or Septra®.
• You should not breast feed if you have HIV or AIDS, because you may give the infection to your baby through your breast milk.
• When you start taking HIV medicines, your immune system may get stronger. If you have infections that are hidden in your body, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, you may notice new symptoms when your body tries to fight them. If this occurs, tell your doctor immediately.
• Birth control pills may not work as well while you are using fosamprenavir. To keep from getting pregnant, use an additional form of birth control with your pills. Other forms include condoms, diaphragms, or a contraceptive foam or jelly.
• This medicine may cause you to have excess body fat. Tell your doctor if you notice changes in your body shape, such as an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck, or around the chest and stomach area. You might also lose fat from the legs, arms, and face.
• This medicine may cause blood sugar levels to increase. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.
• Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while taking this medicine: itching; skin rash; or swelling of the face, lips, and tongue. You may be having a serious skin reaction or a condition called angioedema.
• This medicine may increase your cholesterol and fats in the blood. If this condition occurs, your doctor may give you some medicines that can lower the amount of cholesterol and fats in the blood.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.
• This medicine will not keep you from giving HIV to your partner during sex. Make sure you understand and practice safe sex, even if your partner also has HIV. Do not share needles with anyone.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
• Dark-colored urine or pale stools.
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches.
• Increased hunger or thirst, increased urination, or unexplained weight loss.
• Severe skin rash and itching.
• Unusual bleeding or bruising.
• Unusual tiredness or weakness.
• Yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.
• Gaining weight around your neck, upper back, breast, face, or waist.
• Headache.
• Mild skin rash and itching.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor: